+ 01 — What is ApplanixPPK?

ApplanixPPK is a Web App Cloud Service to post-process kinematic position for UAVs and drones. It will process a GNSS trajectory based on Rover Rinex and Base Rinex Data, or RTX CenterPoint corrections. In addition, it will provide the EO parameter for imagery, if exposure time stamps are available and converted to a PhotoID file (Photo Number, Exposure Time). The creation of the PhotoID file can be done right in the Web App.

ApplanixPPK combines POSPac processing techniques with Trimble GNSS technology.

+ 02 — What are the deliveries?

The user will receive a download link via email with the following files:

• Applanix ASCII file in UTM @exposure time
• UASMaster PRJ file in UTM @exposure time
• Applanix binary SBET file @1Hz
• Applanix ASCII file in UTM and geographic coordinates @1Hz
• Report and Log Files

+ 03 — What is the workflow?

1. Upload Rinex Rover
2. Upload Base Station (or use SmartBase concept/PP-RTX mode)
3. Upload OR Create PhotoID and submit project
4. Data download link will be provided per email

+ 04 — How long will it take until I get my results?

It depends on the project length, but for standard operations (approximately 10 – 15 minutes), the results can be obtained in about 5 minutes via a download link.

+ 05 — Do I need to purchase a license?

No, this is a pay-per-use model where users can sign up on a monthly base plan. If the number of flying minutes is not sufficient from the base plan, users can purchase additional flight minutes at any time.

+ 06 — Are flight minutes deducted from my program if I need to re-process a mission or if a mission process fails?

No! Previous processed missions will also be stored and history maintained in the Web App.

+ 07 — Do I need to know exact coordinates from the provided base station?

No! Users can make use of the RTX CenterPoint Technology and survey in the local base station. The only condition is that RTX CenterPoint supports the antenna, and the time is long enough (30 – 60 minutes). A list of supported antennas can be found here.

+ 08 — Can I use only the add-on programs?

No, users need to sign up on the monthly base plan.

+ 09 — What happens if I don’t upload a PhotoID file or if I don’t have the Web App create it for me?

The Web App will process the trajectory at 1Hz frequency and provide a generic ASCII file and the binary Applanix SBET.

+ 10 — What is the cost for the base plan and the add-on programs?

The cost of the base plan of ApplanixPPK is $37 USD per month. See our pricing page to learn more about our add-on options.

+ 11 — Is there also an annual program available?

An annual program is available for B2B business (resellers), which benefits both parties involved – the end-user and the reseller. Please contact Applanix for further information.

+ 12 — Can ApplanixPPK also process inertial data?

No, ApplanixPPK only supports GNSS processing.

+ 13 — Which Satellite Navigation Systems are supported by ApplanixPPK?

All known navigation systems are supported (e.g. GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BEIDOU, QZSS) as long as the provided Rinex Rover and Rinex Base files contain the necessary observations.

+ 14 — What does the processed position data refer to?

It refers to the antenna. If you want to bring this down to the camera projection center, it will need to be done in a photogrammetric software, and then enter the offset from the antenna to the camera projection center. Any photogrammetric software should be capable of addressing this translation and/or estimate this offset.

+ 15 — What are the benefits of PPK over RTK (RTK vs. PPK)?

RTK requires a real-time link via receiver/transmitter and is subject to interruptions, reducing the final position precision. It also adds hardware needed in the field and on the drone. PPK does not have such limitations. RTK integrates the corrections only in forward mode while PPK runs backward processing to get a better picture of GNSS errors to create a smoother solution. This solution is of higher precision and more robust.

+ 16 — How does PPK work?

PPK (post-processed kinematic) is an alternative approach to RTK (real-time kinematic). As the name says, PPK is not happening in real-time, but later, in post-processing mode. PPK merges the rover onboard GNSS data with base station data (collected at the same time) and geotag the drone images. Doing this in post-processing mode provides more flexibility and better accuracy. Compared to RTK, no real-time link between the base station and drone is required; hence less infrastructure is needed in field. Due to the nature of receiving more accurate results from PPK, fewer GCP's (ground control points) are required in field, which is a cost-saving factor. In addition, PPK may also serve as a backup for RTK if something goes wrong in real-time.

+ 17 — What is SmartBase processing mode?

SmartBase will utilize free available base stations worldwide to process a precise GNSS trajectory. The user does not need to provide a base station. However, there are regions in the world that are well covered and others that are less covered (sparse). We recommend the user pre-check their coverage by using our SmartBase Cloud App. The user can proceed with SmartBase processing if CORS well covers the mission area; otherwise, the user may need to load their base station for single base processing.

+ 18 — What is PP-RTX processing mode in ApplanixPPK?

POSPac PP-RTX (Post-Processed CenterPoint RTX) is a cloud-based global GNSS correction service that utilizes Trimble's RTX technology to provide centimetre level post-processed positioning accuracy without base stations. The Trimble RTX technology uses data from a dedicated global network of tracking stations to compute corrections to satellite orbit and clock information and atmospheric delay models.

+ 19 — How does PP-RTX work, and when is the service available?

The trajectory information is used to generate a set of RTX corrections unique to the mission. ApplanixPPK processes the corrections along with the raw GNSS data to generate a PPK solution with centimetre level accuracy, all without the need for local base stations. The service is available within minutes after data collection has been completed.

+ 20 — Can I use this processing mode in ApplanixPPK wherever my mission is located?

Yes, this service is a global service. However, PP-RTX is segmented into a standard region (global) and fast regions.

Fast regions: Convergence time is within 1 – 2 minutes. Datasets from 10 minutes to several hours can reliably be processed with 3 cm horizontal and 6 cm vertical error (RMS). See fast regions here.

Standard region: Convergence time is 15 to 20 minutes. Datasets from 30 minutes to several hours can reliably be processed at 3 cm horizontal and 6 cm vertical error (RMS).

For short flights (< 30 minutes), you will need to be in a fast region to obtain the specified performance.

+ 21 — What are the requirements to run PP-RTX in ApplanixPPK?

You will need to have clean L1/L2 observations with at least 10 minutes of Rover data in a fast region, or a minimum of 30 minutes Rover data in a standard region.

+ 22 — How many ApplanixPPK subscriptions are there to choose from?

There is one monthly base plan subscription available.

+ 23 — Can I get a trial subscription?

Yes! There is a trial plan available. You can process 35 minutes of flight data.

+ 24 — How many flight minutes are supported for the base subscription plan?

The base plan subscription entitles to process 50 flight minutes of data monthly. If your project exceeds the available minutes, it will process but you will not be able to download the results until you purchase additional minutes from our available add-on plans.

+ 25 — How do you calculate flight minutes?

Flight minutes are the dynamic (kinematic) part of the logged GNSS rover data. Any static data are ignored, only the dynamic data are accounted for. Based on time and velocity thresholds ApplanixPPK detects the dynamic part automatically and can hence sum up flight minutes.

+ 26 — Does the base subscription plan auto-renew and what does that mean for my flight minutes?

The base subscription plan renews monthly unless the plan is canceled prior to the renewal. The available flight minutes are reset and deduction starts from scratch for the subscription period.

+ 27 — What can I do if I need to process more than 50 flight minutes monthly?

You have the option to buy an add-on plan, which includes a set of 50 flight minutes. Multiple plans with tiered pricing can be purchased. These are one-time purchases and not additional subscriptions. Add-ons expire 1 year after activation even if they are not used within that period.

+ 28 — Do I need to sign up to a base plan to purchase an add-on plan?

Yes, signing up for the base plan is required before additional add-on plan minutes can be purchased.

+ 29 — When do the remaining minutes from the add-on plan expire?

The minutes from the add-on plan will expire either after 12 months or upon cancellation of the base plan subscription.

+ 30 — Which flight minutes are consumed first if a new base plan’s period is launched while an existing add-on plan has flight minutes left?

The base plan’s flight minutes are deducted first.

+ 31 — What happens to my flight minutes in case I re-process a previous project (same flight data)?

Flight minutes for a re-processed project are not deducted from either the base plan’s or add-on’s flight minutes. Re-processing with a different processing mode or different base station is possible.

+ 32 — What happens to my add-on plan if I cancel my base plan subscription?

Canceling the base plan subscription will also deactivate the add-on plan and its associated flight minutes. A base plan subscription is mandatory for an active add-on plan.

+ 33 — What happens if I cancel my base plan subscription?

When you subscribe initially, you pre-pay for the entire monthly term. Consequently, if you opt to cancel your base plan subscription, you'll retain access to ApplanixPPK for the remaining duration of that month. There are no partial refunds if you stop using your subscription before the end of the term.

+ 34 — When will my ApplanixPPK subscription expire?

If you have disabled auto-renewal of your subscription, you will lose access to products, services and previously run projects at the end of the day on which your subscription would typically renew.

+ 35 — Can subscriptions be transferred to other users?

Subscriptions are intended for use by a single named user for the duration of the subscription term, without ability to re-assign.

+ 36 — Can I sign up for multiple base plan subscriptions?

No, each registered user is intended to have one base plan subscription of ApplanixPPK. If the base plan’s monthly allotment of 50 flight minutes is not enough, please purchase additional sets of 50 flight minutes by using the add-on plans available.

+ 37 — Can I purchase multiple add-on plans?

Yes!

+ 38 — What happens to my project history if I cancel my subscription?

If you cancel your subscription, your project history will be deleted. Please note, should you choose to re-subscribe later, the previous project history won't be retrievable.